JIM HENSON HOUR, THE: MONSTER MAKER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of hour-long programs hosted by Jim Henson, which includes special presentations featuring an assortment of live-action Muppets and creatures. This program is devoted to the story of Matt Banting (O'Brien), a 14-year-old boy who is dissatisfied with his life and obsessed with his ambition to become a movie monster-maker like his idol, Chancey Bellow (Stanton). Unhappy at home and at school, Matt dreams of greatness and writes fan letters to Chancey but receives no reply. After a chance encounter with the famed monster-maker, Matt finds an excuse to visit his workshop, and is awed by Chancey's latest creation -- the gigantic winged Ultragorgon. The boy is thrilled when Chancey offers him a job, but Matt's parents scoff at his ambitions, so he lies about his new job and pretends that he is continuing to attend school. When he discovers that his father has become involved with some local criminals, he becomes even more disillusioned, and these feelings, coupled with his ambition to become as great as Chancey, lead him to become more and more of a loner, burying himself in his work. Chancey, recognizing Matt's talent and seeing a bit of himself in the boy, tries to encourage him to be more extroverted, but Matt rebuffs him. One night, while Matt is alone with the awe-inspiring Ultragorgon, it comes to life and urges him to focus on his ambition and give up everything else in his life to achieve greatness. But when the terrifying creation ultimately threatens his father's life, Matt begins to learn that family and friends are more valuable than personal ambition. Henson concludes the program with remarks about his own Creature Workshop in London, England, and the technology involved in operating puppets, including the Ultragorgon.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: July 9, 1989 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:35
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:23812
- GENRE: Children's; Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Puppets
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lawrence S. Mirkin … Series Producer
- Duncan Kenworthy … Producer
- Jerry Juhl … Co-Producer
- Martin G. Baker … Co-Producer
- Alexander de Grunwald … Associate Producer
- Giles Foster … Director
- Matthew Jacobs … Writer
- Nicholas Fisk … Based on the novel by
- J. Nigel Pickard … Production (Misc.), Executive in Charge of Production
- Rachel Portman … Music by
- Simon Holland … Production Design
- John Stephenson … Production Design, Creative Supervisor , For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- David Barrington-Holt … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- John Blakely … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Mike Osborn … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Nigel Booth … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Verner Gresty … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Gary Pollard … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Chris Barton … Production Design, Special Creature Design, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Jim Henson … Host
- Harry Dean Stanton … Cast, Chancey Bellow
- Kieran O'Brien … Cast, Matt Banting
- George Costigan … Cast, the Father
- Amanda Dickinson … Cast, the Mother
- Alison Steadman … Cast, Perriwinkle
- Grant Bardsley … Cast, Ben
- Bill Moody … Cast, Reg
- Matthew Scurfield … Cast, Vaughn
- Jonathan Coy … Cast, the Teacher
- Michael Gambon … Cast, the voice of the Ultragorgon, Voice
- Brian Henson … Ultragorgon Performer
- David Greenaway … Ultragorgon Performer
- Marcus Clarke … Ultragorgon Performer
- Sue Dacre … Ultragorgon Performer
- Michael Bayliss … Ultragorgon Performer
- Chris Leith … Ultragorgon Performer
- Martin Anthony … Ultragorgon Performer
- Tony Ashton … Ultragorgon Performer